Summary:
Zip code 38833 in Mississippi is served by a single elementary school: Burnsville Elementary School, a K-8 campus within the Tishomingo County School District. The school enrolls 410 students and operates with a notably low student-teacher ratio of 12.3:1. It is a high-poverty school, with 74.39% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, and it serves a broad grade span unusual for an elementary campus, extending all the way through 8th grade.
Academically, Burnsville presents a mixed picture. The most recent testing data shows math is the biggest area of concern, particularly in 6th grade where only 15.6% of students are proficient, compared to 40.7% in the district and 52.7% statewide. The upper grades are a clear bright spot: 8th graders exceed both district and state averages in math (63.2%), science (71.4%), and ELA (55.1%). Science performance improved dramatically year-over-year in both tested grades, while other subjects showed large swings that suggest significant cohort-to-cohort variability. The school's state ranking has been volatile, dropping from the 46th percentile in 2024-2025 to the 25th percentile (1 star) in 2025-2026, even though its district ranks in the 69th percentile statewide.
Chronic absenteeism is a serious concern, with 27.6% of students chronically absent in 2023-2024, above both the district (24.0%) and state (23.9%) rates. Given that nearly one in three students misses substantial school time and the student body is economically disadvantaged, attendance is likely a barrier to academic improvement. The gap between the district's strong 4-star rating and Burnsville's 1-star rating suggests other district schools are outperforming it. For parents, the key takeaway is that Burnsville offers a low student-teacher ratio and strong upper-grade instruction, but families should be aware of the math struggles in grades 4-6 and the elevated absenteeism rate.
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